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Blessed to Be a Blessing

Relating the Mission of God to Articulating the Mission of God

 

Introduction

The concept of mission in Scripture runs far deeper than occasional overseas trips, specialized ministry programs, or serving as a “missionary.” At its core, it reveals the very heart and purpose of God throughout biblical history. Beginning with God’s call to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3, we see the unfolding of a divine mission that encompasses all of creation and every nation on earth orchestrat. Understanding this missional thread that weaves through Scripture transforms not only how we read the Bible but how we live out our faith in the world today. This exploration will examine how the concept of being “blessed to be a blessing” shapes our understanding of God’s mission, how to read Scripture through a missional lens, and practical ways to share this perspective with others in our communities.

Blessed to Be a Blessing

The promise that Abraham would “be a blessing” carried profound implications at multiple levels. For Abraham personally, it meant a radical reorientation of his life’s purpose – he was blessed not merely for his own benefit, but to serve as a channel of divine blessing to others. This required tremendous faith, as evidenced by his willingness to leave his homeland and embrace a nomadic life of dependence on God’s promises. The blessing wasn’t just about material prosperity or numerous descendants; it encompassed Abraham becoming a paradigmatic figure of faith and obedience through whom God would reveal Himself to the nations.

Within the Bible’s metanarrative, the Abrahamic covenant establishes a crucial turning point. After the universal narratives of creation, fall, and flood, followed by humanity’s continued rebellion at Babel, God initiates His redemptive plan through one family. This particular calling had a universal purpose – through Abraham’s lineage, God would progressively unfold His plan to restore creation and reconcile humanity to Himself. This theme weaves through the entire biblical narrative, finding its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, the true seed of Abraham through whom all nations are blessed.

For God’s mission today, this passage reminds us that being blessed by God always carries missional purpose. Like Abraham, Christians are blessed to be a blessing – called to participate in God’s redemptive work in the world. This challenges both individualistic and tribalistic approaches to faith, emphasizing that God’s blessings are meant to flow through His people to others.

The ancient Near Eastern context makes this promise even more remarkable. In a world where gods were seen as tribal deities concerned only with their own people, Yahweh reveals Himself as the universal God with a global mission. Israel’s election as God’s covenant people wasn’t meant to create an exclusive spiritual elite, but to establish a priesthood for the nations. During the Old Testament era, Israel was meant to:

  • Maintain distinctive holiness as a witness to Yahweh’s character
  • Function as a light to the nations through their obedience to Torah
  • Welcome foreigners who sought to know their God
  • Prophetically declare God’s sovereignty over all peoples
  • Preserve and transmit the knowledge of the true God

However, Israel often struggled with this calling, sometimes falling into isolationism or assimilation rather than maintaining their distinctive witness. The prophets frequently had to remind Israel of their broader mission to the nations.

For contemporary missional Christians, these truths have several implications:

  • First, it reinforces that mission is not a secondary aspect of faith but central to God’s purposes. We are saved not merely from something, but for something – participation in God’s mission to bless all peoples.
  • Second, it suggests that cultural distinctiveness and global engagement must be held in balance. Like ancient Israel, Christians are called to maintain their distinctive identity while actively engaging with and blessing their surrounding culture.
  • Third, it emphasizes that God’s blessings (whether material resources, spiritual gifts, or biblical knowledge) are given with the expectation of stewardship and sharing. The church, like Israel, exists not for itself but as God’s instrument of blessing to the world.
  • Fourth, it reminds us that mission isn’t primarily about institutional programs but about being a blessing in all spheres of life – family, work, community, and beyond. Every believer, like Abraham, is called to be a channel of God’s blessing wherever they are placed.
  • Finally, it places local church ministry in a broader context – each congregation participates in God’s global, multi-generational purpose of blessing all nations. This should shape how we think about everything from discipleship to community engagement to global missions.

This understanding transforms mission from an optional activity for especially devoted Christians into the fundamental calling of each and everyone of God’s people – to be blessed in order to be a blessing to all nations.

Missional Reading of the Bible

A missional reading of the Bible approaches Scripture through the lens of God’s mission (Missio Dei) to restore and redeem all creation. This hermeneutical approach recognizes that mission isn’t merely one of many biblical themes but the central framework that unifies Scripture’s diverse narratives, laws, prophecies, and teachings. Rather than reading the Bible primarily as a collection of moral lessons or doctrinal statements, a missional reading traces God’s ongoing purpose to bless and reconcile all nations through His chosen people – from Abraham through Israel to Christ and the Church – the continuous people of God. This interpretive method illuminates how each part of Scripture contributes to and advances God’s redemptive mission. To read the Bible missionally, one must consistently ask questions like: How does this text reveal God’s character and redemptive purposes? How did this passage shape God’s people for their missional role? What does this mean for the Christian’s participation in God’s mission today? Important elements include recognizing the universal scope of God’s promises, understanding how particular texts equipped God’s people for their witness to surrounding nations, and seeing how various biblical themes (covenant, kingdom, exodus, exile, etc.) serve God’s broader missional purpose. This approach is crucial because it prevents both individualistic readings that reduce Scripture to personal application and narrow ecclesiastical readings that lose sight of the believer’s role in God’s mission to the world. A missional hermeneutic helps believers understand their identity as participants in God’s ongoing work and shapes them for faithful witness in their contemporary contexts.

Sharing the Mission of God with Others

Make it a point to communicate these biblical foundations in your everyday conversations, Bible studies, small groups, and most of all – everyday life! The key is to consistently and naturally weave missional perspectives into various contexts rather than treating them as an occasional special topic. When discussing familiar Bible stories, help others see beyond individual moral lessons to understand how each narrative fits into God’s broader mission. For instance, when sharing about Daniel, move beyond his personal courage to explore how his faithful witness in Babylon advanced God’s mission among the nations.

In Bible studies and small groups, you could facilitate discussions that help others see how the Missio Dei is central to Scripture. This might involve asking thoughtful questions that draw attention to the missional aspects of texts: “How does this passage reveal God’s heart for all nations?” “What does this text tell us about God’s purpose for His people?” “How did this event prepare God’s people for their witness to surrounding cultures?” Consider designing study series that trace missional themes through Scripture, such as God’s promise to bless all nations, the role of God’s people as witnesses, or the universal scope of God’s kingdom.

For example, you might lead a group through a study on how God sends His people—from Abraham to Moses to Paul—and encourage others to reflect on how they too are sent (John 20:21). This could involve exploring how Abraham’s calling wasn’t just about personal blessing but about being a blessing to all nations, how Moses was sent to demonstrate God’s power to both Israel and Egypt, and how Paul understood his apostleship in light of God’s mission to the Gentiles. Help participants connect these biblical patterns to their own contexts and callings.

In everyday life, look for opportunities to highlight how ordinary moments connect to God’s mission. When discussing current events, point out opportunities for Christian witness. When sharing prayer requests, include prayers for global mission and local outreach. When celebrating victories or processing challenges, frame them within God’s larger purposes. This might mean helping a colleague see their workplace as a mission field, encouraging a parent to view family life as preparation for mission, or helping a student understand their studies as equipment for kingdom service.

This regular articulation of the mission in the Bible fosters a missional mindset in your personal life and community. It helps transform how people read Scripture, shifting from viewing it as primarily about personal spiritual growth to seeing it as their place in God’s ongoing mission. This perspective change often leads to practical changes in how people approach their daily lives, relationships, and participation in the congregation and community.

Consider developing specific tools and practices that reinforce this missional perspective: create Bible reading guides that highlight missional themes, develop discussion questions that draw out missional implications, share testimonies of how understanding God’s mission has transformed your own life, and regularly connect local church activities to God’s global purposes. The goal is to help others see that mission isn’t just one aspect of Christian life but the framework that gives meaning and purpose to everything we do.

Remember that this is a gradual process of transformation. People need time to adjust their biblical understanding and see how it applies to their lives. Be patient, consistent, and encouraging as you help others discover the joy and purpose of participating in God’s mission. Create safe spaces for questions and doubts, celebrate small steps of growth, and continually point back to the grand narrative of God’s redemptive work in the world.

Conclusion

The mission of God stands as the grand narrative that gives coherence and purpose to both Scripture and our lives as believers. From Abraham’s initial calling to the present day, God’s people have been entrusted with the privilege and responsibility of being channels of divine blessing to the world. This missional understanding of Scripture challenges us to move beyond seeing our faith as merely personal or our church activities as ends in themselves. Instead, it invites us into the exciting reality of participating in God’s ongoing work of redemption and restoration in the world around us: our family, neighborhood, workplace and community. As we embrace this missional reading of Scripture and share it with others, we become part of the continuing story of God’s people who are blessed to be a blessing. This perspective revolutionizes not just our Bible reading but our entire approach to Christian living, helping us see every aspect of our lives as potential channels for God’s blessing to flow to the nations. The challenge now lies in living out this truth and helping others discover their place in God’s mission to the world.

 

 

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